Religious leaders from Gugulethu and Nyanga held a prayer service in preparation for the upcoming Easter festivities and the scourge of gender based violence (GBV). The service was held at JL Zwane centre in Gugulethu on Thursday 31 March.
Event organiser and leader of the Apostolic Amen Church in Zion, in Gugulethu, Rev Zama Mfihlo said it is time for people to connect with God in whatever they are doing.
“We see it, there’s a need to pray for our brothers and sisters who are going to spend their Good Friday on various parts of the country. We appeal to God to protect them on their journey,” said Mfihlo.
They also prayed for peace and unity in the societies.
“Many families are torn apart by GBV and there’s no unity at all. Even during this coming Good Friday there are people who will not allow by their spouses to go to church for various reasons. As church leaders we are saying ‘enough is enough’,” said Mfihlo.
Member of United Methodist Church of Southern Africa in Gugulethu Rev Zolani Manzezulu said they felt a need for a prayer service. He said most of their congregants are affected by the social ills in society.
“We have a challenge in our communities where people are killed by their partners every day. So, the service was a spiritual intervention to curb the violence. We need unity in our families and churches,” he stated. Manzezulu urged the societies to unite against GBV.